Good morning Brad O'luftee,
I just read your post and you have me wondering who you are referring to when you say, "the late Mr. Carver style"? I hope that I haven't lost a good friend and did not realize it.
Hugh

Yellow and Orange Neversink in the summer, spring and fall and if those don't work I try an Adams or maybe an ant in the Fall. I've found one way of catching fish in the mountains in the winter after it gets really cold and it doesn't involve these flies.

This year I "discovered" CDC and deer. I have fished a form of that fly since March. Last week it was black both dry and s/h, seems as if it a good imitation for ants and beetles. In the Park I would use black or yellow.

Mr. Carver passed away when he was in his 90's about 6 or 7 years ago. He was still fishing while in his late 80's. He was a gentleman generous with his knowledge of technique and method. Watching him fish was an experience of class and beauty that would take your breath away.

Brad O'luftee,
Thanks for your response. I was afraid that you might have beeen referring to Danny Ray Carver, in Cosby, Tn. He was also an excellent Nymph fisherman and a great inspiration to me at a young age. We used to fish Abrams creek some together. I'm glad that he's okay. It's refreshing to look back at early inspirations and remember how they have influenced how you fish today. Good fishing to you.
Hugh

Though out west now my fly of choice for wild small stream fish has always been a #14 or #16 yella stimi, whether in the Smokies, Shenandoah or the little cutthraot streams on Pikes Peak. I usually add rubber legs but don't believe it's necessary. I even fish them out here in Colorado on some of the more famous streams in #12 or #10 and usually outfish the "technical" fisherman 3 to 1.

Another vote for yellow stimi. I like to go big or go home and tend to use a 10/12 almost all the time. A small fish may pass (not likely) but a bigger fish can't resist... when/if I lose those, an adams seems to do the job quite well. Don't really even bother with a dropper because it's just too much fun to watch them race up from the bottom of the pool ...